Home at last

We are home and safe, after getting in at about 12 pm yesterday, Emilie was kind enough to come and pick us up from the airport. The trip totalled 29 hours, with a 6 hour time zone change. We did however manage to grab about 8 hours in a hotel in Mexico City. 

Definitely a little bit dazed yesterday, but we decided to try out our new mate cup, which ironically was the first time we had done the mate properly since Amy and Simon showed us how. Wow, that stuff packs a kick. Now I know how the Argentine's get by without sleep.

Upon getting home I discovered that the internet didn't work, which, as I discovered this morning, was due to the wire leading downstairs to the router having been chewed through by something... damn rodents. With a ton of homework hanging over my head, this did not make for a good morning. Speaking of which, I'd better get back to the homework. Will get photos up soon.

Last days in BA

After the most luxurious busride yet, they even gave us a half decent night cap (mmm... scotch), we arrive in the now roasting city. This time we decide not to try to brave the public transit system, so we pay 30 pesos for a Remise (slightly better than a cab). The hostel we´ve been staying in, Telmotango, is one of the biggest and very nice, a bit of breakfast while we await our rooms...
The last couple of days are essentially walking around the city, until I´m totally sick of it, and until we succumb to the heat and return to the hostel to sleep with the window and door open and the fan on full. It´ll be nice to get back to the cool/cold climate we´re used to. In fact, we´re getting a bit homesick, and are happy to be getting back to the grind.
I´ll put up a bunch more pictures at THIS LINK, when I´m back at home.

Looking forward to the next 24 hours on the plane and in airports, including a 12 hour layover in Mexico City. What we won´t do to save a couple of $$.

Web Album link

More photos.

And my turn to add a bit to the blog. We´re definitely enjoying 

ourselves, but we also find ourselves looking forward to the 

routine of our normal life, and the cold. Definitely too warm to 

sleep as well here. Lots of great quirky things about Argentina 

have made me start to think that living overseas for a year

or two might be a good thing... even with a kid... The world is 

a big place, and it´s nice to have a bit of perspective, although 

it would also be nice to be able to speak the language better. 

Maybe an english speaking country next... or french ;-)

Anyway, Kate pretty much said everything else.

Mendoza

In Mendoza now, which is a whole new level of warm. Whoever designed the city, however, was brilliant. There´s a series of aquaducts throughout the city that water the trees that line pretty much every street. So really you can walk around most of Mendoza without dying of heat stroke. Nice bonus for temparate folks such as ourselves. Went wine touring through the Maipu wine region on bikes. We went with a very international crowd from our hostel. Went to 3 wineries, a chocolate maker (divine), and a olive oil producer. By the end of the afternoon the red wine was losing its appeal in the 30 degree weather. Then the guy who owned the bike rental place shared his own wine with us... and very generous with his portions he was. Then we went back to the hostel and drank more wine. Fortunately it´s cheap here. Went hiking up at Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak in S. America the past few days. Only made it to the first base camp, altitude is not our friend. I (Kate) was gasping for air if I walked up about 10 steps. Not too pleasant. Well worth it though. Had to pay to use the toilets... which isn´t so bad considering you had to carry your own excrement if we went any higher. The joys. The days were mild, but night time was a little on the freezing side. Really wishing for big puffy down jackets. We fairly ran down the mountain in the morning so we didn´t freeze to death, dodging big mule packs that carry supplies along the way. Stayed in a hostel in Los Penitentes, about 10km from the mountain base, for one night. As it turned out, we were the only people in the hostel. Penitentes is a ski resort that is fairly dead teh rest of the year. We met all of 2 people there. Now back in Mendoza and the heat. Planning to leave for Buenos Aires tomorrow night in our ¨suite class¨ seats. We´re going all out for our last bus trip.

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Rafting and Hiking

Well, we´re back in Bariloche and getting ready to head off to Mendoza for some wine tours. The last couple days have been fantastic, the rafting trip, with it´s huge Asado (grilled beef) lunch, and great people, was followed by a good night of drinking with an Irish farmer and his new wife, who´s a large animal vet. The next morning was a little rough, I don´t think they really get the whole draft beer thing here, and I suspect the pipes weren´t clean.
We went for a bicycle ride once our hangovers were done, which was nerve wracking, and an experience I´d rather not relive. There was no room, and the cars drive close and fast. I also picked up a new fly rod, and got ready to head for the hills.
A relatively short 2 hour hike, after convincing the cab driver to go back into the gravel roads, and I´m fishing. Unfortunately, I think I´m too far up river, as there is no sign of any fish, but it´s still totally beautiful. The next day, we head back towards the mouth of the river, where a passer by said there were more fish. It was busy, as it was close to the road, but there were definitley some fish, and I even caught one, despite my poor technique.
A slightly harrowing crowded ride back, and we´re going to jump on the bus, having had no shower for the last few days... look out fellow passengers. Will try to upload pics in Mendoza.

Refugia Frey Hiking Trip

We´re totally enjoying the quasi BC outdoorsy life that they have here in Bariloche. We got back from a hike up into the snow, had a meal at El Vegetariano, then rafting, as Kate describes... Glad I´m over my sickness to enjoy the mountains of meat.

Hiking and rafting and wine

Did you know that for 280 pesos (approx. $100) you can have a day of river rafting, breakfast, and lunch which includes all the asado (argentine bbq, essentially lg chunks of beef) and lovely argentine wine that you could drink? We discovered that today. Wonderful. Definitely recommend river rafting. Only one person fell out of the raft, but we caught him fairly quickly before the whirlpool did. Swam in river (I lasted about 15 seconds). Ended up in Chile. Have now been to Chile. Spent Tues and Wed hiking up to Refugio Frey, a little camp made by the Andes club of Bariloche. REDICULOUSLY warm. Here we thought we were underprepared. Absolutely beautiful, can´t wait to show you photos. Absolute slog to get up there. Likely going to do more hiking/flyfishing on Sat, sun, and mon. Then off to Mendoza for more wine. Until later...

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Bariloche

Kate here. Cam is temporarily unavailable due to an unfortunate bout of stomach illness not yet diagnosed. I TOLD him not to eat little meaty pastry things. In Bariloche now, where it is neither windy, sandy, nor scorchingly hot. It´s lovely. Sort of Nelson/Whistler-ish. Rather hilly, but to be expected for a town in the mountains. Presently in a hostel, but will be hiking tomorrow and the next day (should stomach illness not rear its ugly head again). Hoping to be in the area for a week or so. Tired of buses. AMAZING view of the lake from our hostel room.
Ooh tea time. Must go.

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A couple of photos

Here are a couple of pictures... BA, a whale in Piramides, and us on
the beach in Piramides. Will get more done soon, when we have a faster
connection.

Worrying about getting a hostel tonight in Puerto Madryn and hoping to
find something before we jump on the bus at 6 this evening...

All is well..

Cam and Kate

A beautiful day in Puerto Piramides

After a rainy afternoon yesterday, we were happy to see some sun in the evening... a little wine helped. This morning we were up and looking for breakfast (desayunos) before any of the restaurants were open... i.e. 9 am. We finally just got some food from the corner store and went and ate on the beach. From about 8:30 in the morning until dark the boats are ferrying people out to see the whales, which seem to be obliging. As we are heading out for a hike, the coffee shop is finally open, which is good for Cam, as he was suffering from caffeine withdrawal the day before and was being very lame. After a good strong cup of Cafe Con Leche, we are off. A hike through desertish hills and we arrive at the point that has Loberios (sea lions), and some great views of the whales breaching around us... another great day.

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In Buenos Aires... after a marathon airplane ride

Well we are finally here as of this morning at 11 am local time (5 am home time) the grand total was 18 hours, which included a 2 hour layover in Mexico City and doesn´t include the slightly neurotic 3.5 hours in Vancouver Airport (thanks again Emily for getting us there).
BA is an interesting city, the people all look european, and the city appears to have a lot of history. The streets are all brick and the sidewalks are tile. The neighbourhood we are in reminds us a bit of the drive, albeit with more trash on the streets. We went for a wander this afternoon and stumbled upon a massive street market, which seemed to stretch for miles (I suspect it was literally a couple of miles long). There were tons of leather goods and various other art and antiques, so it was hard to move at much of a pace, because Kate would keep stopping at every stand.
After a good nap in the afternoon, we are getting into the local habit and are up past 11... which is shockingly rare for us.
So far, for our R&R day, excellent.

Buenos Noches

Halloween Night... just before we leave

Just got back from a party at Rob and Henriette's place. Don't know how smart it was partying the night before we leave... but it was a good one, and it was nice to see some friends just before we go.